Hand-holdable tattoo device

Abstract

A hand-holdable device for tattooing includes a handle part with a drive, a needle module which is detachably secured to the handle part and includes a needle that can be moved back and forth by the drive, and a protective sleeve which is configured to fully isolate the needle module from the handle part. The needle is connected to the drive by a form-fitting and/or magnetic coupling including coupling elements and the protective sleeve is releasably held between the coupling elements.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A hand-holdable device for tapping into skin, the hand-holdable device comprising:
 a handle piece including a drive; 
 a needle module releasably secured on the handle piece with a needle that can be moved back and forth by the drive; and 
 a protective sleeve which is configured to fully isolate the needle module from the handle piece, 
 wherein: 
 the needle is connected with the drive by form-closure and/or magnetic coupling with coupling elements; 
 the protective sleeve is releasably retained between the coupling elements; 
 the needle module includes a front end with an aperture for the needle and a back end via which the needle module is releasably connected with the handle piece; 
 the handle piece includes an extension via which a position of the back end of the needle module is fixed in position on the handle piece; 
 one of the coupling elements is on a drive-side; 
 an end of the one of the coupling elements faces the needle module and is configured to align with a front end of the extension; and 
 the protective sleeve extends at least partially over the handle piece. 
 
     
     
       2. The hand-holdable device of  claim 1 , wherein the needle module is connected with the handle piece across a snap-on connection at or adjacent to the extension. 
     
     
       3. The hand-holdable device of  claim 1 , wherein the needle module is connected with the handle piece across a magnet connection at or adjacent to the extension. 
     
     
       4. The hand-holdable device of  claim 1 , wherein the needle module is in contact with the extension. 
     
     
       5. The hand-holdable device of  claim 4 , wherein:
 an outwardly projecting protrusion is disposed on the extension; and 
 the outwardly projecting protrusion is configured to engage at least one latching finger on the back end of the needle module. 
 
     
     
       6. The hand-holdable device of  claim 5 , wherein the outwardly projecting protrusion is an annular flange. 
     
     
       7. The hand-holdable device of  claim 1 , wherein the protective sleeve extends up to a back end of the handle piece and is closed such that the protective sleeve is configured to gaplessly enclose the handle piece. 
     
     
       8. The hand-holdable device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one of the coupling elements is a first of the coupling elements; 
 the needle is disposed on a first end of a retainer; 
 a second of the coupling elements is disposed on a second end of the retainer; and 
 the first end of retainer is opposite to the second end of the retainer in a longitudinal direction of the retainer. 
 
     
     
       9. The hand-holdable device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 a snap-on element is disposed on the retainer; and 
 in a retracted position of the needle, the snap-on element is releasably retained on a mating surface of the needle module. 
 
     
     
       10. The hand-holdable device of  claim 9 , wherein the snap-on element is a projection. 
     
     
       11. The hand-holdable device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the drive includes a driving rod that is oriented coaxially with the needle and configured to move translationally; and 
 the one of the coupling elements is disposed on the driving rod. 
 
     
     
       12. The hand-holdable device of  claim 11 , wherein a rotational axis of a drive motor of the drive is oriented at a right angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the driving rod. 
     
     
       13. The hand-holdable device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the driving rod includes an elongated hole oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis of the driving rod; 
 the elongated hole is disposed at an end of the driving rod opposite to the one of the coupling elements; and 
 the elongated hole is configured to receive a drive journal connected with a motor shaft. 
 
     
     
       14. The hand-holdable device of  claim 13 , wherein the elongated hole is configured to receive the drive journal with a roller supported on the drive journal. 
     
     
       15. The hand-holdable device of  claim 1 , wherein the hand-holdable device is configured to be battery operated or accumulator operated. 
     
     
       16. The hand-holdable device of  claim 1 , wherein the extension is disposed on a setting ring that is mounted on the handle piece so as to be adjustable in a longitudinal direction of the needle. 
     
     
       17. The hand-holdable device of  claim 16 , wherein the setting ring is mounted on the handle piece via a threading.